Upgrade Guide: Install a DVD-ROM Drive

4. Hook Up the Cables

The typical DVD-ROM drive upgrade kit has many cables and involves many required connections; the specifics vary by manufacturer. The instructions given here apply specifically to the Creative Labs PC-DVD Encore 12X kit with the Dxr3 decoder. Read the manual that came with your kit carefully, and work slowly and methodically.

1. Connect the audio cable (included with the kit) to the rear of the DVD-ROM drive and the audio-in connector on the MPEG card.
   
   
2. If an audio cable runs from the rear of your existing CD-ROM drive to the sound card, disconnect it from the sound card and connect it to the audio-in connector of the MPEG card.
   
   
3. Connect an audio cable from the line-out connector of the MPEG card to the sound card's internal CD audio connector.
   
   
4. Disconnect the monitor cable from your PC's video card and connect it to the lower (external monitor) connector on the MPEG card.
   
   
5. Take the video loopback cable included with your DVD-ROM drive kit and connect it to the MPEG card and to your PC's video card.
   
   
6. If you'll be watching DVD movies on a television set, connect the TV to the MPEG card. If your TV has S-Video input (for the highest quality), you'll need an S-Video cable (not included with most DVD-ROM drive kits). Otherwise, use the included 'S-Video to composite video' cable adapter. You'll also need a standard RCA cable to complete the connection to your TV. That's also not included with the kit.
   
   
7. If you have a stereo receiver or PC speaker system that can decode Dolby Digital Surround Sound, connect a cable (usually not included with the DVD-ROM drive kit) between the MPEG card and the stereo or speaker system.